Chapter 2: Duties, Complications
As soon as breakfast was cleaned up, Thomas, Jorge and Vince awaited everyone's attention at the beach, in front of the Name Pillar. Lucky for everyone, the cold snap, as well as the wind, has ceased, for now, the warmth of the sun and the food in their stomach making sure everyone is ready for their day.
"You know the drill, ladies and gentlemen, your names were drawn and each person was put in a station for the week; those who will fish, those who will tend to the fruit and vegetables, those who will prepare tonight's dinner, those who will wash clothes at the stream, and the runners will hunt, scout for more supplies as well as any wildlife that could be a threat to us," Vince explains, standing in front of a basket full of leaves with names on it. "Jorge? Thomas?"
"You know the drill, Hermanos, anyone who doesn't do their duties is given what's left of tonight's meal, don't be one of those people, Hermanos."
"It's beginning to get colder, people, make sure you start wearing warmer clothes for your duties, especially those who will be fishing at the cliffs and cleaning clothes at the stream, that's all from me."
"Alrighty, people, time to get to work, you know your stations, you know your places, get to it!" Vince finishes, watching everyone as they begin organising themselves into their groups. "Thank you, Jorge, Thomas."
"Just doing what needs to be done," Thomas says, giving Vince a nod.
"I'll be heading to the crops, Hermanos, see you all at dinner," Jorge chuckles before walking off. "Good luck on the run today, Thomas."
Thomas begins walking away, knowing that Frypan will be helping prepare tonight's dinner, as well of the fact that Minho and Gally are stationed with him and the hunters in training. But before he can join Minho, Gally and the trainees.
"Thomas?" Brenda's voice speaks from behind him. "I was wondering- my dad has been putting me constantly on laundry duty and it gets really shitty- so I was wondering if I could go on the run with you guys. I've been practising with my bow and you know I try to be as quiet as possible if it comes to a hunt-"
"Brenda, you know it's not up to me," Thomas sighs, looking over at Vince. "If I let you break the rules, then I break the rules too, what type of leader does that make me?"
Brenda stays quiet, unsure as to what to say to Thomas, that beautiful smile curved into a frown. Thomas hates when she doesn't smile and knows for a fact she feels the same when he doesn't smile. A thousand thoughts run through Thomas' mind, dozens of choices, dozens of consequences to those choices.
"Do you have a bow?" Thomas asks, getting a quick nod from Brenda. "Go on then, get it, be here in five minutes or we leave you behind."
"Oh my god, thank you so much, Thomas!" Brenda nearly screams, kissing him on the cheek so hard she leaves a red mark, giggling as she runs away.
"Shuck sake, Jorge is going to kill me," Thomas sighs, turning before walking towards Minho and the trainees. "MINHO?! We're going to have an extra!"
"An extra?" Gally questions. "Ah, gotcha, Greenie."
"Who?!" Minho stops, looking at Gally before looking back at him with wide eyes. "No way- I was God damn wondering when you were gonna' let B-Dogs go with us on a hunt!"
"B-Dogs?! Seriously, dude?!"
"Can't I give Brenda a nickname? Or will you get jealous of your more handsome best fr-"
"Oh shuck off," Thomas smirks before speaking to the trainees. "You know the drill, guys, you are all to be completely silent and make sure of two things; you only kill what everyone is able to eat, and we kill a minimum of three deer today, it's starting to hit the winter and we need to allow them to hibernate, as well as increase in numbers. Everyone understand that?!"
Silent nods are all that Thomas is given by the trainees, it impresses him, they're already learning.
Thomas, Minho, Gally, Brenda and the trainees travel through the thick forest of the island, wooden spears or bows in each person's hands. For the first time since they arrived in Paradise, there's no humidity, no sweating, and with the wind on their backs, it's unlikely their scents will be picked by predators or their prey. After catching some snakes, seagulls, as well as some squirrels, they begin hunting after the real prey; some delicious deer. Thomas leads, Minho and Brenda co-lead in case anything goes down, one of Vince's biggest rules; always have a backup plan, and with different dangers being discovered every day, it's an important thing to happen. Thomas raises an open hand, indicating everyone to stop in their tracks before he points in a certain direction; specifically at the deer that stands twenty-metres away from them.
"Twenty metres," Thomas whispers, raising his bow alongside Brenda. Two arrows. One target. "Fire."
Thomas and Brenda let their arrows fly, hitting the deer in the shoulder and stomach, causing it to flee deeper into the forestry. "LET'S GO!"
Using their superior speed, Minho and Thomas take the front, with Brenda and Gally running alongside the trainees, making sure they stay safe as the faster boys chase down the deer. With their speed comes great cost, branches slash the young men as they run past, causing small cuts wherever they're hit, and as the forest becomes thicker, it's becoming harder for them to keep a balance.
"This is getting fucking ridiculous," Thomas snaps.
"You said fuck?! Whatever happened to shuck, dude?!" Minho questions, breathing heavily before stopping, pulling Thomas down with him. "Stop."
"What?"
"Shut the shuck up," Minho whispers, pointing towards something horrid, something that makes Thomas' eyes widen. "Look."
Thomas and Minho stare at a massive, blood-soaked mountain lion, clearly rabid, larger than normal, and underneath the mountain lion; the deer they had shot.
"He's eating our deer."
"No shit," Thomas snarls, looking at Minho with wide eyes. "Give me your spear."
"What? Why?" Minho questions, looking like he's going to punch him.
"Gally, Brenda, the trainees, they're still heading here," Thomas quickly explains, snatching the spear from Minho. "I'm going to be the distraction, now go."
"Thomas."
Without thinking, Thomas raises his bow before letting the arrow loose, hitting the giant mountain lion in the back, causing it to turn around. "GO NOW, MINHO!"
The mountain lion growls viciously as the now lone Thomas, who holds Minho's spear in one hand and three broken arrows clenched in his other hand. Thomas manages to stand strong, fearless, only worrying about one thing; the safety of everyone else. "YOU WANT ME, BITCH?! COME AND GET ME!"
The mountain lion charges towards Thomas on all fours, causing Thomas to run through the thick forestry; if he struggles through it, the monstrous lion most definitely will. Vicious growls and snarls are all that Thomas hears as he rushes through the forest, blood dripping from his body as branches cut him more and more, which causes the mountain lion to go into a frenzy. Thomas trips on a large rock, hitting his head on another, causing blood to flow down his temple and onto his neck. He quickly turns, facing the approaching mountain lion, throwing each broken arrow like a throwing knife, a couple of the arrows hitting him the mountain lion, slowing it down enough for him to continue fleeing.
"COME ON! SMELL THE BLOOD! YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!" Thomas screams, moving the forestry with his hand, opening up an unexpected cliffside. "Oh, fuck."
Thomas, expecting to be able to turn around and flee away from the cliffside, is welcomed by the large mountain lion; blood dripping from its mouth, as well as wounds inflicted by the arrows. It growls, preparing for an attack with its large teeth and overgrown claws. Thomas cracks his neck before gripping tightly onto the spear with both hands, tears and sweat rolling down his face. "Brenda. Minho. Jorge. Vince. Newt. Teresa. Chuck. I'm sorry."
The mountain lion roars monstrously, its claws slicing along the dirt before it begins charging at Thomas, moving at a speed Thomas has never seen before.
"COME ON!" Thomas screams before thrusting the spear towards the beast, piercing its chest as it pounces onto him, but its weight takes him off the cliff, into the water below. Thomas and the mountain lion thrash in the water, both his and the beast's blood mixing with the salt water as Thomas continues holding onto the spear, waiting until the mountain lion stops moving, before finally letting go. Thousands of thoughts run through his head as it becomes harder and harder for him to breath as the mountain lion drags him down. The biggest thoughts; how did he let himself get blind-sided? How is he going to get out of this mess?
